Development and characteristics nanoscale retrograded starch as an encapsulating agent for colon-specific drug...

Retrograded starch (RS III) decreased into nanoscale particles through high-speed shearing emulsification, and the unknown effects of shear speed and shear time on their particle size were explored in this study. The in vitro digestibility, structure properties, stability, and adsorption property of these nanoparticles were also determined. The prepared RS III nanoparticles showed notches and grooves on the surface, and measured an average size of approximately 300 nm with high luminosity. Resistant starch contents decreased, while in vitro digestibility results suggested that these nanoparticles still exhibited high resistance to digestion, indicating that RS III nanoparticles were suitable for colon-specific drug delivery as an encapsulating agent. FTIR, Raman and XRD experiments indicated that these nanoparticles possessed new peaks and an amorphous structure. RS III nanoparticles were found to be most stable in increased pH or decreased NaCl concentration. Moreover, RS III nanoparticles exhibited high adsorption capacities and long in vitro release properties for 5-fluorouracil with loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency of 49.20 mg/g and 49.25%, respectively.